Prologue

Wednesday 8th February 20XX, 11:30 am

"Give them, o Lord, your peace and let your eternal and light shine upon their souls. Amen." The priest goes to the coffin and says this final prayer before allowing the rest of the beloved ones to pay their respects. "You may all now pay your respects to Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina." With that, the priest closed his Bible and stepped aside.

Almost instantly, people with dark robes and dark umbrellas had aligned together as they circled around the two coffins, but one remained where he was. He wanted to pay his respects when everyone have long been gone.

The rain didn't reveal any signs of ceasing at all either, and it felt like forever until the line of people had shortened down. It was then that the last Uzumaki member stood up from his seat and lifelessly walked towards his parents' coffins. His once bright blue eyes had lost all the colour of the life he once had with his loved ones. Nothing can ever be the same anymore without them by his side.

'Mom... Dad... I.. I can't believe that you're both gone... I just... I just wished that I was living in a nightmare. I wish that this was a nightmare... I can't...' Naruto sobbed as he thought these painful thoughts and gritted his teeth. "... I can't accept the fact that you're both gone!"

It was then that the broken blonde collapsed down to his knees and continued to weep with the heavens crying along with him.

As Naruto continued to weep, not a moment later he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. When he looked up the slightest bit, he saw a familiar Uchiha standing next to him with an umbrella shielding themselves from the heavy rain. Without any of them sharing any words, they just let the silence fill in the atmosphere. Sasuke allowed Naruto to pour out the tears he wanted to shed for so long and just stayed there until he stopped.

When the Uzumaki wept his last remaining tears, it was then he finally stood back up and wiped away his sadness, despite it being a scar to his heart. As soon as Naruto turned around, he felt two arms wrap around his figure tightly and his eyes stared down at the figure emotionlessly.

"Oh, Naruto... I'm really sorry." Mikoto cooed as she continued to comfort the broken Uzumaki. "Don't worry, we're here for you. We'll make sure that we'll have you under our custody until you feel ready to go on your own. Alright?" She cupped his whiskered cheek gently and gave him a reassuring smile before hugging him again. To her, Naruto was like a third son since she and Kushina were very close to each other. Like sisters.

"Mikoto-kaa-san... Y-you don't have to." Naruto breathed out as he stared at the rest of the Uchihas behind her.

"Naruto, we insist. You and your parents are like another family to us. So, it's only fair that we'd do this for you. I'm sure your parents would agree on that." Itachi said.

"Yes, he's right. We even have the papers ready to sign on." Mikoto said, until another voice interrupted the conversation.

"That won't be necessary."

Once this unknown voice was soon heard, without hesitation, Naruto and the rest of the Uchihas turned their gazes towards the source of the person who spoke up and interrupted their conversation. Due to this abrupt behaviour this mysterious person had shown, the female Uchiha's attitude hardened and Mikoto glared at the person as she spoke sternly with her hands on either sides of her hips. "And why would you say that?" She observed the man and he seemed to be a butler.

"I merely said this because my master wanted me to inform all of you that Naruto is now in good hands. He will be under my master's custody from now on."

Mikoto looked at the butler. Her temper slowly flaring as her glares hardened and her tongue clicked, providing a sound of 'annoyance.' "Where is this master you speak of? The one who 'supposedly' will be looking after Naruto?" She questioned harshly.

"Mrs Uchiha, I do not intend to step out of line here. However, I do know that this is a time for mourning as you and Naruto have lost two precious people, but having a temper like that won't change on who will have the custody of Mr Uzumaki. I apologize to say this, but I am a mere butler who is only given the tasks to carry out, so I would not know where my master is as of this moment. Although, all I can say is that my master is currently not within this country and therefore provided this card." The butler then proceed to take a small card out of his dark, elegant suit which he provided for Naruto to take in his possession.

"If Mr Uzumaki wishes to contact the master, he can use this card as a way to get in touch."

Naruto hesitantly looked at the man then down again before he finally accepted the card. Upon seeing the details given, a phone number was only inscribed onto the card. Perplexed, Naruto questioned. "There isn't a name on here...?"

"I am aware of that. However, if you do intend to contact my master, then and only there, the master's identity will be revealed to you. Which also reminds me, the master also mentioned that if you decide to see them, you are much welcome to bring someone along with you for your comfort. That being said, I must now return." The butler then bowed his respects before turning on his heels and began to walk away from the group.

"Wait! Before you go... What's your name?" Naruto yelled.

The butler turned back around and looked at Naruto with an eye smile before answering. "I am Sebastian. At your service, young Master."

Mikoto stood there quivering in her skin. She was enraged, yes. She couldn't and wouldn't accept Naruto to be looked after by some 'Master' that none of them knew of. It wouldn't have bothered her as much if she at least knew how this 'master' Sebastian spoke of looked like or even who they were. Was that 'master' a male or a female?

The moment, Fugaku looked at his wife, he reached out and placed his hands on her shoulder as a sign of support. "Dear, do not frighten. I am here and we will sort this out."

******

The house that was once warm and filled with love now felt isolated and cold. Its happiness had faded away and the gloominess slowly started to creep in.

The gathered crowd from the burial were now at the reception which was held at the Uzumaki's household. Food and drinks were all placed in the kitchen where the guests could grab the snacks for nibbling.

The house was silent, yes, but only a few murmurs were heard as it would be impolite for them to be loud at this dark time for mourning.

As the guests murmured amongst themselves, recalling and reminiscing the memories they once held with the deceased, the fellow friends of Naruto's searched for him throughout the house as they have not seen him ever since they have arrived. They wanted to comfort the young teen who had just lost his parents. Of course, none of them truly understood or knew the feeling of deep sorrow and grief that the Uzumaki was experiencing.

Sasuke, on the other hand, had noticed how his classmates tried desperately to search for Naruto. However, with that being said, Sasuke was the only one who was closest to the Uzumaki and he knew exactly where he was.

The young Uchiha slowly but quietly snuck out of the house through the back door when he felt like no one was watching him. However, he was unable to hide himself under the watchful eyes of his elder brother. Unaware that someone was following him, Sasuke made his way to the open gardens where at the far corner, was a greenhouse gazebo.

Sasuke fully remembered when he first used to visit with his family. He noticed how this place had once offered comfort and joyous times, but now had transformed into a dark, gloomy place. He saw how the life of the household which held so many dear memories of his family and Uzumaki's slip away.

The rain and dark clouds that had been lingering for a week now had given this greenhouse gazebo an image of isolation. Walking further into the greenhouse gazebo, there he saw Naruto sitting where his parents once used to sit. He saw the tears slipping through his shut eyelids. From at that moment, Sasuke just couldn't comprehend the feeling his best friend must've been going through.

"Everyone's looking for you," he said as he neared the weeping teen.

Of course, Naruto knew that Sasuke came out here to find him since the Uchihas were the only ones who knew of this place.

"When we ate ramen here, mom would get mad at dad and I because it would smell this whole place out... But instead of chasing us like she normally would do, Kaa-san started throwing dirt from the pots at us." Naruto laughed weakly as he recalled the many memories he had of this place with his deceased parents.

Sasuke stood there not knowing how to respond. He didn't know which way he should approach this situation with Naruto since the Uzumaki was right now a wounded soul, and saying something wrong could possibly make himself even more depressed and isolated. Though, that's when a solution came to mind.

"What's your plan? Are you going to contact that phone number?" Sasuke questioned.

"I.. I don't know..." Naruto replied in a raspy tone. Despite his voice slowly betraying him, the tears he had previously shed were now long gone. He just couldn't shed any more.

"Naruto. If you ever do see this person, would you like Sasuke and I to come along with you?"

Recognizing the voice, both Sasuke and Naruto's heads turned to find the older Uchiha brother standing there looking at them.

"I-Itachi, how long have you been there?" Sasuke asked.

"Not that long little brother, but like I said before, Sebastian did mention earlier that if you contacted his master, Naruto, you are welcomed to bring someone along. Plus, I do insist that Sasuke and I are more than happy to accompany you." Itachi said as steadily approached the duo.

Naruto's eyes gazed out the windows of the greenhouse gazebo, his mind thinking whether he should see this person or not. Upon finally closing his eyes, he let out a small breath.

"I guess I have to ring this person up soon then..."

******

Wednesday 8th February 20XX

Konoha Airport, 4:00 pm

The tires screeched loudly as the plane touched down on the runway. The plane slowly started to slow down and park in front of the privately owned bunkers.

Outside theses bunkers, there was a long shiny black limo with a tall man waiting in front of it. He held onto a black umbrella that shielded himself from the pouring rain.

As the plane soon came to a halt that was only meters away from the limo, the doors soon opened and they came out. Men in black held opened-up umbrellas that also assisted shielding the person in front of the them from the rain.

When the newly arrived person and the man who stood next to the limo met halfway, they lifted the umbrellas over their heads to see each other's faces.

"Welcome back, master."

"It's good to be back, Sebastian."